Where has Sen. Deb Fischer Been on Trade? Nebraskans left to wonder if Senator Fischer is listening

Friday, May 4th, 2018

With a trade war caused by President Trump’s tariffs escalating, Sen. Deb Fischer admits she has ignored proposed legislation that would nullify tariffs on steel and aluminum that would help Nebraska’s struggling farmers and ranchers.

In fact, Fischer said during an interview with the Nebraska Radio Network that she hadn’t even read the bill, which was introduced by Republican Sen. Jeff Flake of Arizona and Democrat Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota: “A number of bills are introduced every year,” Fischer said. “I haven’t had Senator Flake approach me to visit with me about that bill either, so I don’t know how serious he is about pushing it forward.”

Nebraska Democratic Party Chair Jane Kleeb said: “That is an odd response, since Flake urged his Senate colleagues to support the measure in a speech on the Senate floor. Nebraskans are left to wonder, does Senator Fischer spend her time in Washington waiting around to be told by her colleagues what to do?”

“Deb Fischer continues to sleep-walk through her time in the Senate,” Kleeb said. “Nebraskans deserve someone who will work for them, not someone who is ignoring their plight.”

Trump imposed tariffs of 25 percent on steel and 10 percent on aluminum in a move mainly aimed at curbing imports from China. Throughout Nebraska and the rest of farm country, those tariffs are boosting costs for equipment and infrastructure and causing some farmers and agricultural firms to scrap purchases and expansion plans, according to Reuters.

But perhaps Fischer not reading Flake’s bill should come as no surprise.

“She told the Omaha World-Herald that she did not even know there was an open seat on the Senate Agriculture Committee before she joined the group,” Kleeb said.

Fischer remains out of touch with how to be effective for Nebraska’s farmers and ranchers. Fischer continues to fail Nebraskans. Fischer has shown yet again she’s content with going through the motions while not doing the job she was elected to do.